As the great British weather cannot be relied upon to deliver summer on time, come rain or shine we must summon in summer ourselves, and that’s exactly what we’re doing at Cocktails in the City right now.
We’re busy hand-picking the city’s finest cocktails institutions in preparation for a weekend long al-fresco cocktail festival this July hosted in a stunning private Georgian square garden nestled in central London.
As the recipes and ideas roll in, we round up five delicious summer cocktails to try at home. Read on to discover thirst quenching low ABV spritzes to prosecco topped floral serves that will keep you satisfied all summer.
Rhubarb and Vine - Created by Harvey Nichols
35ml Edinburgh Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, 15ml Harvey Nichols Rose Wine, lemon, sugar syrup, London Essence soda.
Method
Built in a glass. Combine all ingredients stir and top with soda.
B&H Garden Punch - created by Bourne & Hollingsworth
35ml St-German Elderflower Liqueur, 15ml Oxley Gin, 20ml lemonbalm cordial, fresh lemon juice, lavender bitters, topped with Real Kombucha Dry Dragon. Garnished with lemon balm and micro flowers.
Lemon balm cordial: 600ml water, 170g caster sugar, juice of 2 large lemons, 30 Lemon Balm leaves.
Method
Built in a glass. Combine all ingredients stir and garnish with edible flowers.
For the cordial: Bring the water to the boil in a saucepan. Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the herbs. Cover the pan and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Discard the herbs and strain the cordial through a sieve lined with thin cotton muslin and store in the fridge.
Waterhouse Fizz - Created by Lost and Found
10ml Warner Edwards Rhubarb Gin, 10ml Briottet Rhubarb, 10ml Monin Elderflower, 10ml Lemon Juice, muddled Raspberries, top prosecco.
Method
Built in a glass. Combine all ingredients and top with prosecco.
Water Your Own Grass - created by Filter + Fox
35ml Martini Riserva Speciale Ambrato, 15ml Blanco tequila, 20ml rocket honey
(juiced wild rocket, strained and mixed with and mixed equal parts with honey), 50ml pear juice, topped with Martini Prosecco
Method
Built in a glass and topped with Martini prosecco.
Four Corners Ice Tea - Created by Hawksmoor
35ml Johnnie Walker Black Label infused with Lapsang Souchong, Earl Grey, Wild
Rooibos or Jasmin tea ( your choice!)
20ml homemade blackberry cordial*
Topped with soda.
Blackberry cordial: Two punnets of blackberry’s, 70cl simple syrup (1:1 caster sugar & water), 30g citric acid, 15g malic acid – blended together and filtered
Method
Built in a glass. Combine all ingredients stir well and top with soda. Garnish with fresh blackberries.
